House committee passes bill to allow third party audits of higher ed schools

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Some lawmakers and the Governor's office say it is costing the state's colleges and universities too much to be audited and they should have another option.

The bill from Representative Bryan Adams of Gretna passed the House Education Committee Tuesday afternoon.

Adams says schools can get an audit cheaper in the private sector, like from a CPA, than from the Legislative Auditor's Office.

However, the state auditor says it won't matter who does the audit. It will cost the same if the schools are reporting incorrect information.

"When I have to do extra work because the university or an LTC doesn't do the job right upfront, that's going to cost money," said Daryl Purpera, Louisiana Legislative Auditor. "You're going to end up paying a CPA firm the same thing if they have to go do the work for them."

The bill also allows colleges and universities to raise tuition themselves without the legislature.

Purpera says his office worked audits at 42 schools last year at a cost of $6.7 million.

Representative Jerome Richard from Thibodaux was the only committee member to vote against the bill Tuesday.

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